Epic limestone karsts rise out of the green rice fields for miles around to give the landscape a middle-earth feel. The misty cloud that characterises the area further adds to the effect and creates a wonderful contrast with the brilliant green paddies below.

The next day I somehow find myself even higher still, simultaneously clutching my seat for dear life while whooping in excitement. Pascal (paragliding pilot extraordinaire) and I are flying high above the snow, circling and turning and spinning and generally acting like excitable puppies let off the leash.

Nothing beats that pure moment of ecstasy when your adrenaline kicks in and you feel like you’re on top of the world. These moments are amazing. You feel like you’re unstoppable—invincible even! But these moments can be pretty hard to plan. Lucky for you, we’ve got a list of six activities that will get your adrenaline pumping. And the best part? You can do them in some of the coolest places throughout the U.S.A.

The Kruger Lowveld, named because of its proximity to one of the area’s greatest attractions, the Kruger National Park, is an absolute paradise for nature lovers and outdoors enthusiasts. A well-known multiday hiking trail traverses the forested slopes between Sabie and Graskop, and this was one of the highlights of our visit to this region.

Franki Black is a South African travel writer currently based in London. She’s worked in a Costa Rican jungle, on yachts in the Caribbean and in the African bushveld. As an expert journalist and travel writer, we recently caught up with her to find out what she recommends as the top outdoor adventures that need to be added to everyone’s bucket list. Sit back, relax and be inspired.

Covering roughly 225km from Gordon’s Bay to Barrydale, the first three days were characterised by some intense heat, a dash of wind here and there, wide road shoulders, expansive farmlands and the soothing waters of the Breede River